Device to prevent pilferage of merchandise

ABSTRACT

A retainer box with a lockable cover has a row of pegs therein and has a slotted front wall whereby, when the cover is open, the link at one end of a chain may be passed through a slot and slipped over a peg to be locked to the box when the cover is closed. When used with a garment rack the other end of each chain passes through a buttonhole and has a stop element such as a button thereon which is sufficiently large to prevent withdrawal.

United States Patent Eutzler 1 Sept. 12, 19-72 [54] DEVICE TO PREVENT PILFERAGE OF MERCHANDISE [72] Inventor: Betty J. Eutzler, 12860 W. Tulane,

Brookfieid, Wis. 53005 22 Filed: Dec.2, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 94,221

[52] US. Cl. ..70/l8, 70/59, 211/4 51 m. C]. ..E05b 69/00, E05b 73/00 58 FieldofSearch ..70/14-,15,1s-,57-61; 211/4, 7, 8; 312/216, 217

56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,037,971 4/1936 Ferrer .;...70/61 2,655,424 10/1953 OConnor ..312/351 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 89,074 8/ 1921 Austria ..70/59 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney-Arthur L; Morsell, Jr. and Curtis B. Morsell [57] ABSTRACT A retainer box with a lockable cover has a row of pegs therein and has a slotted front wall whereby,'when the cover is open, the link at one end of a chain may be passed through a slot and slipped over a peg to be locked to the box when the cover is closed. When used with a garment rack the other end of each chain passes through a buttonhole and has a stop element such as a button thereon which is sufficiently large to prevent withdrawal.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 12 m2 TNVENTOR BETTY J. EUTZLER ATTORNEYS 1 DEVICE TO PREVENT PILFERAGE-OF MERCHANDISE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is adapted for use in stores to prevent pilferage of merchandise, and is particularly useful in, preventing the pilferage of garments supported on hangers. r

2. Description of the'Prior Art Heretoforeit has been attempted to prevent the pilferage of garments and the like by having non-removamore, in this type of device, special and expensive permanent hangers are required which are specially designed for the purpose. ln-addition, some of these devices require a padlock or lock for each garment, and such padlocks are easily lost or misplaced. Because of the fact that the; chain is locked at both ends and passes through a sleeve of the garment it is not practical for a customer to try on agarment without having a clerk unlock the chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventionprovides a relativelyinconspicuous retainer box with a lockable cover which can be readily supported horizontally in various overhead locations in the store. The box has a front wall with longitudinallyspaced .slots whereby a linkor ring at one end of a chain or other flexible member may be passed through a slot and anchored in the box when the cover is closed, there being means removable only when the first end of each chain isdisen'gaged from the box for connecting an external portion of each chain to an article of merchandise.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described which is particularly useful in connection with garments supported on ordinary hangers in a store, the box being elongated and adapted to have a chain for each garment to be protected, the device being removably supported in horizontal position on ahorizontal garment bar to extend in a non-interfering position above the bar for substantially the length thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described having flexible members removablylocked at one end to a retainer box, wherein the other end of each chain passes through a buttonhole of a garment, there being a button or other stop element on said other end which is so large that it cannot be withdrawn through the buttonhole. Thus the flexible member can only be removed from the garment after the retainerbox has been unlocked to permit release of the first end of the flexible member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described which permits a customer to try on a garment while it is locked to the retainer box.

A further object of the invention is'to provide a device wherein one lock serves'to simultaneously lock a multiplicity of items of merchandise in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pilferage-preventing construction wherein the retainer box can be shallow in depth, narrow in width, and

. reasonably inconspicuous, and whereinit is capable of being readily installed in a variety of locations, it being also practical to'mount asignal light on the box which is visible throughout the store to indicate that a customer desires service.

. With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved device to prevent pilferage of merchandise, and all of its parts and combinations, as set'forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the improved device attached to a garment bar, the cover being open and parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portable garment rack having one of the improved devices associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portable rack which can be moved over miscellaneousappliances to furnish protection therefor; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a fragment of a wall and showing how one of the retainer boxes may be mounted on a wall.

A DESCRIPTION OF T IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly to the drawing, first to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates a garment bar of the type which is employed in a clothing store, which bar maybe permanently mounted in horizontal position in a cabinet or maybe a part of a portable garment rack of the type illustrated in FIG. 2. This bar is designed to support a plurality of conventional garment hangers 11 in the usual manner. An elongated retainer box 12 has depending legs l3, the lower ends of which connect with clamps 14 whereby by manipulating screws 15, the

retainer box may be clamped to a garment bar 10 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 or 2. The opposite sides of the clamp 14 may be sufficiently flexible to permit removal from the bar when the screws 15 are removed. This permits the device to be readily moved from one garment rack to another depending upon requirements in the store.

The retainer box 12 may be formed of any suitable material such as wood, metal, or plastic, and includes a shallow, elongated body portion 16, having a bottom 17, having a rear wall 18, a front wall 19, and end walls 20. The box may be of narrow width and very shallow so as to be relatively inconspicuous. A cover 21 may be suitably connected to the box to close the same. Itis preferred to employ a hinged cover as illustrated which is hinged to the rear wall 18 as at 22. The cover may have a locking projection 23 received in a locking slot 24 whereby the locking of the cover may be controlled by a key inserted in the keyhole 25.

The front wall of the box is formed with a horizontal row of spaced slots 26. Suitable means is employed within the box to anchor the detachable ends of flexible members 27 inserted through the slots. The use of pegs 28 which project upwardly from the bottom of the box, one behind each slot, is a very desirable and novel arrangement. In this case each flexible member, which is preferably a chain, has its innermost link 29 slipped over a peg. If a different type of flexible member is employed there may be a link on its end of a size to pass through one of the slots and to slip over a peg. The other end of each flexible member or chain, in the case of garment protection, is connected to a stop element such as a very large button 30, preferably of metal larger than any normal buttonhole. In order to .brace the upper ends of the pegs it is preferred to have the cover grooved or recessed as at 31, the groove being slightly wider than the diameter of the knobs to receive the upper ends thereof when the cover is closed. Such groove will tend to resist any pull on a chain.

FIG. 2 shows the device removably installed on the bar ofa portable garment rack 32 of the type commonly used in stores, which garment rack is mounted on wheels 33 so that it may be readily moved to a desired location.

FIG. 3 shows the improved device at the top of a special portable rack 34 mounted on wheels 35. This rack may be moved to a location over items of merchandise such as TV sets 36 or other appliances to prevent removal thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4, the retainer box may also be mounted on a wall of a store by the use of suitable brackets 37. Any of the retainer boxes may be equipped with an upstanding signal light 38 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. I

USE OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 and 2 show means to prevent pilferage of garments 39 which are supported on conventional garment hangers 11. With the flexible members removed from the box, one of the flexible members is threaded through a buttonhole of each garment which is to be protected and is drawn up until the enlarged button 30 is positioned behind the buttonhole as shown in FIG. 2. The button is formed of strong material such as metal and is of such size as to be substantially larger than the largest buttonhole encountered. The detachable end of each chain is then passed through one of the slots 26 of the retainer box 12 and its innermost link slipped over one of the pegs 28. One chain is used for each garment supported on rack. For convenience of illustration the rack has not been shown filled in FIG. 2. It is to be understood, however, that there would normally be thirty to forty garments on a rack such as that of FIG. 2, and the retainer box would have one slot and one peg for each garment and there would be a chain for each slot. After all the garments are hung, and after all of the chains have been attached to pegs in the retainer box, the cover is closed and locked. This, therefore, prevents removal of the garments from the store because the large buttons 30 prevent pulling of the chains through the buttonholes, and the other ends of the chains are locked within the retainer box. The chains are preferably made of sufficient length so that a customer can remove a jacket from its hanger and try it on while the chain is still connected to the retainer box and garment. This cannot be done with the devices of the prior art. A customer who desires service from a clerk may press a button to illuminate a light 38 such as one of the lights shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This will be visible throughout the store. If the customer is ready to purchase the garment and wishes a more thorough fitting the clerk can unlock the box by inserting a key through the keyhole 25. The garment may then be readily removed by first removing the upper end of the chain from the peg and by then pulling said end through the buttonhole of the garment 39, or the chain may be left attached to the garment. In certain store arrangements it may be convenient to mount the retainer box on a wall 40 such as is illustrated in FIG. 4.

The pilferage-prevention device may also be em- 'ployed in connection with merchandise other than garments in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Here the retainer box 12 is mounted at the top of a special rack 34. In this type of use, one end of a chain 27' may be slipped over a peg of the box, the other end may be passed through a loop 41 on the article of merchandise, and then pulled upwardly to be inserted through another slot 26 of the box and slipped over another one of the pegs 28. Other ways may be employed for removably locking appliances or miscellaneous items of merchandise in the general manner shown in FIG. 3.

It is apparent that the retainer box 12 may be readily moved from place to place in a store, depending upon requirements, and readily mounted in a suitable location by the use of the clamps 14 with the aid of a screwdriver for the screws 15; or the box may be mounted on a wall by the use of the brackets 37 which merely require the use of a screwdriver for mounting. Also, special portable devices may be employed as shown in FIG. 3 with the retainer box forming the top thereof for protection of miscellaneous merchandise. While the retainer box 12 is usually straight, it can of course be made in arcuate form to fit a particular requirement. In the case of a garment bar, it is of course desirable that it extend above and follow the direction of extent of the bar. With the present invention the retainer box can be made narrow and shallow so as to be relatively inconspicuous and easy to move from one location to another. While the use of pegs within the box is a highly desirable and novel method of quickly and rigidly connecting the upper ends of the chains, it is obvious that other arrangements could be employed for locking the upper ends of the chains within the box when the cover is locked.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Whatl claim is:

1. A pilferage prevention device comprising an elongated retainer box, a lockable cover for said box, a plurality of elongated flexible members each having a detachable end, means disengageable only when the cover of the box is open for anchoring the detachable end of each flexible member within the box, and means removable only when said detachable end of a flexible member is disengaged from the box for connecting an external portion of each flexible member to an article of merchandise, said means comprising a stop element on said external portion of the flexible member which is of greater size than the largest buttonhole of a garment.

2. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 1 in which the stop element is a large button.

3. A pilferage prevention device comprising an elongated retainer box having a front wall with longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from a free edge, means supporting said box in a horizontal over- 6. A pilferage prevention device comprising an elongated retainer box havinga front wall with longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from a free edge, meanssupporting said box in a horizontal overhead position adjacent articles of merchandise, a cover for said box of a size to overlap said free edge to close head position adjacent articles of merchandise, a cover for said box of a size to overlap said free edge to close said slots when the cover is closed, elongated flexible members for said slots, each flexible member having a detachable end extending through a slot, means which is disengageable only when the cover is open for anchoring said detachable end of each flexible member within the box, and means removable only when said detachable end of a flexible member is disengaged from the box for connecting an external portion of each flexible member to an article of merchandise, the means for anchoring the end of each flexible member within the box comprising a peg spanning the depth of the box behind each slot and the flexible member having an end link of a size to be slipped onto said peg.

4. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 3 in which the pegs project upwardly from the bottom wall of the box.

5. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 4 in which the underside of the cover of the box is recessed to receive the upper ends of the pegs.

said slots when the cover is closed, elongated flexible members for said slots, each flexible member having a detachable end extending through a slot, means which is disengageable only when the cover is open for anchoring said detachable end of each flexible member within the box, and means removable only when said detachable end of a flexible member is disengaged from the box for connecting an external portion of each flex-. ible member to an article of merchandise, the means for supporting the retainer box comprising a rack having a horizontal garment bar, and means between the box and bar detachably connecting the box above said garment bar.

7. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 6 in which there are legs depending from the box and clamps on the lower ends of the legs for detachably connecting the box to the garment bar.

8. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 3 in which each flexible member is a chain, and in which there is an end link at the detachable end of the chain which is of a size to slip onto a peg in the box. 

1. A pilferage prevention device comprising an elongated retainer box, a lockable cover for said box, a plurality of elongated flexible members each having a detachable end, means disengageable only when the cover of the box is open for anchoring the detachable end of each flexible member within the box, and means removable only when said detachable end of a flexible member is disengaged from the box for connecting an external portion of each flexible member to an article of merchandise, said means comprising a stop element on said external portion of the flexible member which is of greater size than the largest buttonhole of a garment.
 2. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 1 in which the stop element is a large button.
 3. A pilferage prevention device comprising an elongated retainer box having a front wall with longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from a free edge, means supporting said box in a horizontal overhead position adjacent articles of merchandise, a cover for said box of a size to overlap said free edge to close said slots when the cover is closed, elongated flexible members for said slots, each flexible member having a detachable end extending through a slot, means which is disengageable only when the cover is open for anchoring said detachable end of each flexible member within the box, and means removable only when said detachable end of a flexible member is disengaged from the box for connecting an external portion of each flexible member to an article of merchandise, the means for anchoring the end of each flexible member within the box comprising a peg spanning the depth of the box behind each slot and the flexible member having an end link of a size to be slipped onto said peg.
 4. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 3 in which the pegs project upwardly from the bottom wall of the box.
 5. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 4 in which the underside of the cover of the box is recessed to receive the upper ends of the pegs.
 6. A pilferage prevention device comprising an elongated retainer box having a front wall with longitudinally spaced slots extending transversely from a free edge, means supporting said box in a horizontal overhead position adjacent articles of merchandise, a cover for said box of a size to overlap said free edge to close said slots when the cover is closed, elongated flexible members for said slots, each flexible member having a detachable end extending through a slot, means which is disengageable only when the cover is open for anchoring said detachable end of each flexible member within the box, and means removable only when said detachable end of a flexible member is disengaged From the box for connecting an external portion of each flexible member to an article of merchandise, the means for supporting the retainer box comprising a rack having a horizontal garment bar, and means between the box and bar detachably connecting the box above said garment bar.
 7. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 6 in which there are legs depending from the box and clamps on the lower ends of the legs for detachably connecting the box to the garment bar.
 8. A pilferage prevention device as claimed in claim 3 in which each flexible member is a chain, and in which there is an end link at the detachable end of the chain which is of a size to slip onto a peg in the box. 